The annual Mackinac Bridge Walk has been held every year on Labor Day since the Bridge opened in 1957, and Monday, September 6, 2010 is the date of the 53rd annual walk. Read on for information and a cool video of the walk!
Strangely enough, Wikipedia seems to have the most historical information on the walk (which is not much). They say that the first walk took place in the early morning hours of Labor Day, 1958. and that just 68 people took that first 5 mile walk across the Mighty Mac. In the early years, it seems that the walk was sparsely attended and viewed as an annoyance until the governor was brought in to lead the walk. The walk averages 50,000 to 65,000 attendees and the record is estimated to be 85,000 when George H. W. Bush led the walk in 1992.
The Governor’s party leads the way at 7 AM with registered and pre-qualified joggers (details from the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness). Important things to note (according to the official site) are that traffic still moves across the bridge during the event, that it starts on the St. Ignace side, that the last walkers have to start by 11 AM, that they really recommend you figure your return transport out, that it’s FREE (my capitalization) and that there are NO RESTROOMS ON THE BRIDGE (their capitalization).
The Michigan Department of Transportation has a photo gallery from past Mackinac Bridge Walks. A photographer named Chuck contributed one of his photos from the bridge walk to Wikimedia, and he has a nice gallery of Mackinac Bridge Walk photos. A search of Flickr finds some bridge walk pics as well (hopefully more after this year’s walk!). Do you have more links? Post ‘em in the comments and please share your story/photos if you walk this year! If you click that button to the right, you can get a ridiculous amount of information on the Mighty Mac!
Say hello to September and enjoy the bountiful harvests and beautiful scenery it brings. September is a perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with it's warm days and cool evening temperatures (not to mention the declining mosquito population). As far as things to do in the Great Lakes State September is ripe for the picking. So get out and enjoy the harvest celebrations, color tours, wine trails and the abundant festivals and fairs! As usual we by no means have listed all the events happening around Michigan. Add ones we missed (with links) in the comments below!
Quotes
"September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn. The cricket chirps in the noontide, making the most of what remains of his brief life. The bumblebee is busy among the clover blossoms of the aftermath, and their shrill and dreamy hum hold the outdoor world above the voices of the song birds, now silent or departed."
- September Days By Rowland E. Robinson, Vermont.
"When the goldenrod is yellow,
And leaves are turning brown -
Reluctantly the summer goes
In a cloud of thistledown.
When squirrels are harvesting
And birds in flight appear -
By these autumn signs we know
September days are here."
- Beverly Ashour, September
September's birthstone is the sapphire. The meaning is clear thinking.
The birthflowers for September are the forget-me-not, and aster.
The equinox named the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere and the vernal or spring equinox in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from 21 September to 24 September
September begins on the same day of the week as December every year, because there are 91 days separating September and December, which is a multiple of seven (the amount of days in the week).
Stuff to do and places to go
August 21 - October 3 Michigan Renaissance FestivalHolly
Festival is held on weekends and Labor Day, rain or shine. "visitors may also partake in games of skill or enjoy non-stop entertainment where belly dancers, sword swallowers, musicians, comedians and sword fighters provide merriment for all ages. The Festival is best known for it's awe-inspiring full-contact armored jousting tournaments where gallant knights defend their honor until the last man is standing!"
September 2 - 7 Michigan Peach FestivalRomeo
If you are looking for something fun for the whole family, there is no better place to be on Labor Day Weekend! Bring your family & friends to the Michigan Peach Festival in the beautiful Village of Romeo. There's something fun for everyone!
September 4 - 6 Hamtramck Labor Day FestivalHamtramck
Hamtramck Festival has more than 500,000 annual visitors, live music on two stages, carnival rides, Polish Day Parade, samplings of ethnic food, cultural dancers, children's activities, more.
September 3 - 6 Detroit International Jazz FestDetroit
For 30 years, the Detroit International Jazz Festival (DJF) has attracted visitors and locals to an end-of-summer ritual on Labor Day Weekend that celebrates one of America’s most important art forms. The festival boasts five stages and 100 acts over four days in a city with a rich musical legacy. Sprawling over several city blocks in downtown Detroit – from Hart Plaza to Campus Martius – the festival also offers educational activities, giant puppets, fireworks, rare opportunities to meet the artists and much more. And it’s all FREE!
September 3 - 6 Arts, Beats & EatsPontiac
Oakland County’s Favorite Summer Festival Celebrating Art, Music, Cuisine and Humanity returns September 3-6, 2010. Now in its 13th year Ford Arts, Beats & Eats Presented by Citizens Bank will take place in Downtown Royal Oak for the very first time. The festival will offer more than 200 performances on ten stages, a highly ranked Juried Fine Arts Show, local restaurants with some of the finest cuisine in metro Detroit and international, regional and local attractions that will make the city of Royal Oak the premier destination for Labor Day weekend 2010.
September 3 - 5 Logging FestNewaygo
The Logging Fest takes place over Labor Day Weekend. Newaygo was built around the logging industry, and we are celebrating our logging heritage. Highlights of the Logging Fest include the Chainsaw Sculpture Competition and Auction, Lumberjack's Competition and Fireman's Water Battle. The Arts & Crafts Show in Brooks Park is host to exhibitors from all over the country displaying their arts and crafts. The local merchants have sidewalk sales. The event also includes kids activities and games, and on Sunday a parade route goes through downtown Newaygo.
September 4 - 5 Marquette Area Blues FestMarquette
The Marquette Area Blues Society (MABS) was born July 4, 2003 during the annual fireworks display in Marquette at the Lower Harbor Park. Founding members Terry Klavitter, April Lindala and Walt Lindala always enjoyed the sites and sounds of what Marquette had to offer, but they continually asked - "Why doesn't this town have a blues festival?" Marquette's residents love music and they love a good time - it just made sense.
September 6 Labor Day Bridge WalkMackinaw City
The Labor Day Bridge walk, recognized as "the world's greatest walking event", brings over 70,000 people to the area. Buses are available for transportation to the north end of the bridge. Participants walk from the north side to the south. At the finish line you are awarded a certificate of completion.
September 10 - 12 Art & Apples FestivalRochester
Presented by Paint Creek Center for the Arts, the Art & Apples Festival is Michigan's second largest juried fine art festival with an average attendance of over 125,000 festival-goers and 250+ artists from across the country. The festival showcases artists from across the country, local and national entertainment acts, a free Kids Art Zone, Activity Zone, 3 food courts and more.
September 10 - 11 Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine FestivalMackinaw City
On September 10th & 11th, 2010 Mackinaw Crossings will host “Historic Depot Happy Hour Hopps of Fun.” This unique event will feature as extensive sampling of 50+ award winning Michigan micro brewed beers and over 40 wines from Michigan’s four internationally recognized wine regions. Plenty of food, wine, beer, entertainment and fun! Festival grounds are located at Mackinaw Crossings in Downtown Mackinaw City.
Music - 3 stages of entertainment for all musical tastes
Sports - Choose from our hole in one contest, 5k walk/run or our bicycle tour.
Family Activities - Carnival rides, free children's activities in Stompyland, Fireworks on Maple Lake, Parade, and the Grape Stomp.
Wine Enthusiasts - Wine tours and wine tasting tents abound throughout the festival area.
Other activities include: Car show, Arts & Crafts show, turtle derby, and much more!!
September 10 - 12 Wheatland Music FestivalRemus
Each year thousands of people converge on the 160-acre festival site to enjoy a wide variety of activities, as well as the star-studded lineup on the main stage. There is a juried arts and crafts show, a raffle, children’s activities, teen and young adult activities, instrument and dance workshops, music, food, fellowship and fun. Impromptu jam sessions can be found throughout the campgrounds all weekend long.
September 11 Dally in the Alley Official ArtistDetroit
"The Greenest Festival in Detroit". What began as an inner city art fair in 1977 evolved into a performing arts festival when it was moved to its present alley and renamed in 1982 to “DALLY IN THE ALLEY”, the title of a medieval drinking song. Great musical talent, good beer and a remarkable string of fabulous September weather has indelibly marked the alley at Second and Forest in Detroit ’s Cass Corridor as the site of the best music festival in the Midwest .
September 11 Smokin' Jazz Barbecue Blues FestivalBrighton
The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Smokin’ Jazz & Barbecue Blues Festival was created approximately four years ago – and after its conception quickly became Brighton’s hippest event. Not only does this event bring you authentic jazz, blues and zydeco, but is also offers some of the tastiest barbecue this side of the Mason/Dixon line.
September 11 Port City Street Fair Manistee
Enjoy autumn at the Port City Festival in historic Manistee. See the Riverwalk, entertainment, food, the antique car show, arts & crafts fair, special exhibits and more.
September 11 - 12 Great Lakes Cider & Perry FestivalSt. Johns
Throughout the weekend, samples of the finest cider and perry (cider made from pears) from the Great Lakes area will be available for tasting. In addition to the cider and perry tastings, food vendors will be selling sweet and savory selections. Attendees will also have an opportunity to stock up on these not-so-easy-to-get beverages, available for purchase during the event.
September 11 - 12 Historic Home TourMarshall
For 47 years the Marshall Historical Society has been showcasing 8 private homes, 1 church and 1 business as part of its Historic Home Tour. It has been called the Granddaddy of Midwest Home Tours and is famous all over the country for its traditions and heritage. We invite you to join us this year as we celebrate our 47th Historic Home Tour. We have many exciting things planned and it will be a weekend to remember.
September 17 - 19 Michigan Irish Music FestivalMuskegon
Featuring 3 days of live music on 3 stages, from traditional Irish and folk to contemporary Celtic rock. The festival centerpiece, the Pub Tent serves authentic Irish Food and beverages.
September 17 - 19 Victorian FestivalNorthville
Journey back through time to a simpler era with a visit to downtown Northville's 20th annual Victorian Festival on September 17 - 19. Experience the art, history, and romance of the 1800's amid Northville's historic downtown district and tree-lined streets.
September 17 - 18 "On the Waterfront" Car Show & "Big Rig" Truck ShowSt. Ignace
The well known St. Ignace Car Show was formed in 1975 and the first show was held the last Saturday of June 1976. 134 vehicles were on display that year. The show continued to grow each and every year and by 2004, 2500 collector vehicles were on display with 100,000 spectators observing.
September 18 - 19 Living History EncampmentBelmont
This is an annual event where visitors can view first hand what life in early America was like. This is a time line event featuring military & civilian living historians demonstrating our country’s history from colonial times to the present. This event is supported by local citizens and businesses, and is open to the public at no charge. Historical re-enactors will be wearing authentic period clothing and living in period shelters. Traditional Artisans will demonstrate their historic skills, including blacksmithing and woodworking throughout the weekend. Activities will also include musket and cannon firing and multi-period military tactical Demonstrations.
September 17 – October 31 ColorfallGrand Rapids
This annual celebration of the autumn season features an extensive chrysanthemum display with hundreds of flowering plants in both interior and exterior areas. Indoor highlights include varieties on display along the winding Scenic Corridor and the Seasonal Display Greenhouse, while outdoor plantings are featured in the English Perennial Garden, Michigan’s Farm Garden and Volunteer Tribute Garden. Color tours, tram rides and seasonal children’s activities offer a unique way to experience autumn.
September 16 - 19 OktoberfestFrankenmuth
In 1990, Frankenmuth, "Michigan's Little Bavaria," celebrated its first Oktoberfest. The Frankenmuth Oktoberfest celebrates German culture, heritage and love. Their goal is to incorporate as many of the sights, sounds, taste and traditions of the original Munich Oktoberfest as possible. They strive to retain as much of our Bavarian heritage as possible and proudly demonstrate this during the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest. Frankenmuth is the first Oktoberfest outside of Munich to be sanctioned by the Parliament and the City of Munich.
Come and enjoy the flavor of German cooking! We offer a variety of authentic German foods, served daily. Delight your senses with Norm's Market catered delicacies. Be sure to enjoy Paula's Famous Funnel cakes. You won't want to miss out savoring some German beers along with the traditional Bavarian Inn pretzels.
September 17 - 18 Old Town BluesFestLansing
The Old Town BluesFest is a two-day FREE music festival that brings local, regional, and national acts to an audience of roughly 15,000 people from across Michigan and nearby states. BluesFest's music truly is living music, history in the making. Each artist at the festival is asked to play an original composition, something that hasn't been played at any other festival.
This year's festival will take place Friday, September 17 (4pm-12:30am), and Saturday, September 18, 2010 (1pm-12:30am), in the streets of Old Town, surrounded by the best of the Capital City's art galleries as well as unique retail stores and grand architecture. Vendors line the streets offering ethnic food, beverages, art, clothing, and crafts, and nearby galleries and boutiques open their doors during festival hours.
September 17 - 19 Salmon FestivalGrand Haven
The 7th Annual Grand Haven Salmon Festival, a three-day festival slated for September 17-19, 2010 in downtown Grand Haven. The event was designed to mark the passing of summer, promote the area as a unique fall tourist destination and celebrate the fall harvest season and salmon migration. The festival theme is arts, education and entertainment and assures the residents and visitors alike a unique opportunity to learn about the region’s natural assets, while experiencing the cultural appeal of the area through music, art, entertainment, history and education.
September 18 - 19 Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & WalkLeelanau
The weekend features a spectacular race through Leelanau's vineyards and a self guided wine tour of LPVA member wineries featuring world class wines and culinary delights that reflect the season's bounty. In 2010 we are highlighting local foods and each wineries food pairing will feature locally sourced items.
September 19 Autumn Harvest FestivalNegaunee
Visit the Michigan Iron Industry Museum for their first-ever falltime celebration. This weekend of family fun includes music, blacksmith and craft demonstrations and light refreshments. Kids will enjoy games, storytelling, pumpkin painting and paper mask making.
September 19 Southwest Michigan Community Harvest FestScotts
You're invited to the 8th Annual Southwest Michigan Community Harvest Fest, a celebration of local food, local farming and sustainable living. A few years ago, some people got together because they all had the same idea: How about hosting a celebration of local food and farming? Tillers International was approached to be the site host; its rural setting and mission of teaching farming techniques worldwide made it the ideal choice.
September 22 - October 10 ArtPrizeGrand Rapids
A radically open art competition, giving away the world's largest art prize. Part arts festival, part social experiment - this international art contest is decided solely on a public vote. Art is the focus of the competition, but the main event is community. Artists take over the city, visitors explore and new relationships form. Communities open to new ideas organically.
September 24 - 25 Kalamazoo Irish FestKalamazoo
Live Celtic music featuring: Belfast Gin, Blackthorn, Chelsea House Orchestra, Craic Wisely, Dyed in the Wool, Embarr, Erin Quinn School of Irish Dance, Harvest Home, Kalamazoo Pipe Band, Irish Dance Company of Lansing, Kennedy's Kitchen, String Cheese, The Waxies and Whiskey Before Breakfast. Irish Step Dancers from the Erin Quinn School of Irish Dance and the Irish Dance Company of Lansing. Supervised children's area with arts and crafts activities and games and prizes, all with a Celtic theme. Food vendors and Guinness Beer Tent with Irish Cuisine and drink. Over 20 merchandise vendors, selling Irish and Celtic themed clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts and more. Cultural Area where you can learn about your family’s genealogy, have your palm read and learn about the art of calligraphy and the craft of weaving.
September 25 Evening at an 1896 Logging CampGrayling
Journey back to 1896, when Salling, Hanson and Company's Section 9 Camp logged what is now Hartwick Pines State Park. As a "new employee," you will travel the quarter-mile lantern-lit route from the Grayling train depot (the Hartwick Pines visitor center) to the logging camp (Hartwick Pines Logging Museum), where Section 9 Camp is preparing for the upcoming winter logging season.
There, you'll learn "first-hand" about the logging industry, logging-camp life and some of the dangers of a logging job. You will meet and talk with shantyboy Morris O'Gorman about life in the bunkhouse, landlooker N. P. Salling about the search for the tall timber and camp cook Mrs. Billings about the huge appetites of the lumberjacks and how much food she needs to cook for them.
After you go through the museum and meet all the residents of the camp, enjoy the campfire and a hot beverage.
September 25 - 26 American Heritage FestivalLansing
Join them for a step back in time and experience a piece of our rich Mid-Michigan cultural heritage. A day the whole family will enjoy. Farmers Market, pioneer toys, Apple cider pressing, spinning, live animals, blacksmithing, historic farm tool display, spinning, lace making, good old time music, Grand River pontoon boat rides, good food, WolduMarket and much more.
Seeking Michigan was established to connect you to the stories of our great state. Visit them regularly for a dynamic & evolving look at Michigan’s cultural heritage.
Subtitled “Flame Keepers – Carrying the Torch for Modern Jazz,” the Detroit Jazz Fest will feature a veritable “dean’s list” of alumni who passed through the “schools” of Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Betty Carter, Ray Brown, Miles Davis and Gil Evans. “2010 artists Mulgrew Miller, Bobby Watson, Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Randy Brecker, and Benny Green were all in Blakey’s band at one time or another,” says festival director Terri Pontremoli. “These musicians went on to develop their own bands, explore new territory and nurture a new generation of flame keepers,” she added. “In jazz, a lot of press is given to the veterans or to the young lions. I am happy to focus this year on these “middle men” who are in the peak of their creative and technical powers, making significant music in our time.”
Bobby Watson will reunite HORIZON with Terell Stafford, Victor Lewis, Edward Simon and Essiet Essiet. Michael Weiss’s quintet will feature Randy Brecker in a tribute to Horace Silver, and Benny Green, along with Christian McBride and Greg Hutchinson will pay homage to Ray Brown. Maria Schneider, a clear disciple of composer/arranger Gil Evans, will bring her entire orchestra to town. In recognition of the 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt, the Hot Club of Detroit will perform. “Brownie Speaks” will feature 20-somethings Dominick Farinacci and Jonathan Batiste remembering Clifford Brown. A special tribute to Detroit’s Pepper Adams will feature the great baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan with another Detroit hero, pianist Barry Harris. “Defenders of the Groove” with vocalist Ernie Andrews, Detroit’s Louis Hayes, Donald Harrison, Eddie Henderson, and Melvin Sparks are sure to tear it up. Vocalists this season include Tierney Sutton and Grammy-winner Kurt Elling with special guest Ernie Watts. The Manhattan Transfer will perform some of their recent Chick Corea material and then swing standards with the Detroit Jazz Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Dennis Wilson.
Other artists include pianist Danilo Perez, saxophonist Tia Fuller, Freddy Cole Trio, Scott Kinsey Quartet, Poogie Bell Band with Victor Bailey, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Newly signed Mack Avenue Records artist Kirk Whalum, joined by Lalah Hathaway and Robert Randolph, will perform the music of Donny Hathaway. Pumping the B3 in a Saturday night fish fry will be Pat Bianchi Trio and Mike LeDonne Quartet. The Mambo Legends Orchestra with former members of Tito Puente’s band will get folks out of their seats.
The Detroit International Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in North America. It has become a major tourist attraction, with 23% of its audience coming from out of state. It has a $90M economic impact on Detroit and showcases the city in its most positive light. In 2010, the festival has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Erb Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. Major corporate sponsors include Chase, Carhartt, Absopure, Mack Avenue Records, DTE Energy, Meijer, Budweiser, Pepsi, Comcast and Fox 2. In addition, there is a growing base of individual support. Fans are encouraged to become Rhythm Section members by making donations of any size on line over the next few months, as philanthropist Gretchen Valade will match any gift by 50% to help sustain the festival as a free event. “We are extremely grateful to have the support of these institutions and individuals,” adds Pontremoli. “They are our life blood.”
I featured a photo by Aaron Jones last Friday on Michigan in Pictures and while I was checking out his work I came across this fantastic time-lapse he shot at Drummond Island. Be sure to set the video to "HQ" and don't miss the Perseid meteors toward the end!
The sixth annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival will take place August 27 (Friday), 28 (Saturday), and 29 (Sunday) at the Ski Hill and Chalet Area in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Ontonagon County located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The festival will feature folk, blues, bluegrass and contemporary music from top-class nationally touring artists as well as up and coming Michigan artists. 1250 people per day will get to hear the over 30 artists who will appear on our outdoor stages.
Featuring: BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO, That 1 Guy, Po Girl, Danny Barnes, The Ragbirds, John Doe, Frontier Ruckus, Dangermuffin, Krista Detor, Seth Bernard and May Erlewine, Hymn For Her, Sam Corbin, Jen Sygit, Everett Smithson Band, Charlie Parr, Lonesome Dan Kase, Doris & the Day Dreams, Dave Boutette, Rory and Dale Miller, Yvonne Blake, Bathtub Mothers, Cornbread Harris, Javier Matos and Hurricane Harold, Michael “Laughing Fox” Charette, & Children of the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival!
Last year ArtPrize in Grand Rapids launched and was the most successful art event in Michigan's history, attracting 200,000 visitors to see the work of over 1000 artists in every media from fine art to paper airplanes. In 2009, Absolute Michigan was on location for ArtPrize and I have to say that it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life to see this city transformed into a giant gallery teeming with active, engaged crowds of people looking this way and that, trying to take in a mind-boggling amount of art.
In 2010 the format will be the same, with artists submitting a single entry at venues all over the city, all vying for the votes of those who attend and the $250,000 1st place prize. Absolute Michigan will be back to cover the event, and I sincerely hope you can make the time to go to Grand Rapids and experience ArtPrize.
It isn't often that you can visit a ghost town and a recent dogman sighting spot on the same trip, but just tool on up to Fayette State Park off Hwy US2 on County Road 483 in the UP. The Historic Fayette Townsite is an old logging and iron-smelting town abandoned en masse in the 1890s because -- duh! -- most of the hardwood had been chopped down. Also, its charcoal-fired smelters were outmoded by then. Many more structures are preserved here than in most ghost town sites.
But it was at the Fayette park campgrounds in mid-August of this year that a 40-year old meteorology lab technician, his 33-year old government-worker wife and their three children aged 8-12 received a fright that was no ghost. The father, Tim, had been raised in the UP and brought his family back for a vacation. They first experienced a number of unsettling incidents such as hearing growling and loud twigs snapping around their tent. Tim, his wife and their oldest child sat up at their campfire later than usual to keep watch. Just as they were about to go to bed something tall walked in front of their tent on its hind legs, silhouetted by the fire -- it had a wolf's head on an upright, humanoid body! They sat frozen as it disappeared into the night, and needless to say, did not sleep well that night. It left no evidence behind.
Read many more tales of modern day encounters with unknown canines in Linda Godfrey's new book The Michigan Dogman, Werewolves and Unknown Canines Across the US, due out this fall from unexplainedresearch.com.
Taste the Local Difference says that blackberries are ready to pick! Blackberries are very high in Vitamin C and K and manganese and a good source of Vitamin E, folate, magnesium, potassium, and copper. They have one of the highest levels of the antioxidant antocyanin, which may help fight cancer, aging, and improve vision. Some fun facts:
Blackberries are also known as "black caps"
Blackberry tea was considered a cure for dysentery during the Civil War
The blackberry leaf was used as a hair dye
Blackberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. cornstarch
3/4 lb. peaches, pitted and thickly sliced
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter cut into large pieces
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
6-oz blackberries
Preheat oven to 375°F. In a medium bowl whisk together maple syrup and cornstarch then add peaches and toss to coat; set aside. Put butter into an 8-inch round or square glass or metal cake pan. Heat in oven just until butter is melted, 2 to 3 minutes, then remove and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt then stir in buttermilk and mix until just combined to make a thick batter. Pour into pan over melted butter without stirring. Sprinkle reserved peach mixture and blackberries evenly over top of batter and bake until golden and bubbly, 50 to 55 minutes.
There's not too many things more fun than playing in the big waves - surfing, bodysurfing or just fooling around. Unfortunately, fun can turn deadly if you're not paying attention. mLive reports that it's been a deadly year on Lake Michigan saying that as of last Tuesday:
64 drownings had been reported in Lake Michigan during the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2010 fiscal year, which continues through Sept. 30, said Charles Wolfson, a civilian search and rescue controller for the agency’s Lake Michigan Command Center in Milwaukee. That compares to 40 drownings for the all of the 2009 fiscal year in Lake Michigan, which touches four states with its beaches.
...Dave Guenther, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Marquette, said he too believes this year's elevated number of drownings is directly related to the hot temperatures.
Guenther had documented 17 Great Lakes drownings associated with rip currents this year before the drownings Sunday of a 27-year-old suburban Grand Rapids woman on a Muskegon beach and a 44-year-old Lawton man off Ludington's shore.
Last year, Guenther tracked three drownings related to rip currents in Lake Michigan for the entire season.
"This is the largest number of any year I've had on record so far," he said. "I think the lakes are much warmer this year than last year. So the big thing is more people are going out into the lakes."
The Michigan Sea Grant has great information about rip currents. Knowing these simple things can help ensure that you or your loved ones don't end up on the wrong side of the statistics.
Signs that a rip current may be present
A break in the incoming wave pattern
A channel of churning, choppy water
A line of foam or debris moving seaward
A difference in water color
If caught in a rip current
Stay calm
Don’t fight the current
Swim in a direction following the shoreline (parallel)
Float or tread water if you’re unable to escape by swimming. When the current weakens, swim at an angle (away from the current) toward shore
If you cannot reach shore, draw attention to yourself. Face the shore, call or wave for help
Helping someone else
Many people have died while trying to rescue others caught in rip currents.
Don’t become a victim yourself. If a lifeguard is not present, shout directions on how to escape the current
If possible, throw something that floats to the rip current victim
Aurora Borealis Designs Aurora Borealis Designs of Leland, Michigan hand crafts unique jewelry from beach glass, beach stones and silver.
Becky Thatcher Designs Locations in Glen Arbor, Leland, Harbor Springs, Traverse City and Key West. You may also purchase our jewelry and other items in our online store.
The Homestead Resort In the heart of the Sleeping Bear - perfect for romantic getaways, family vacations, family reunions, weddings and meetings.
Strangely enough, Wikipedia seems to have the most historical information on the walk (which is not much). They say that the first walk took place in the early morning hours of Labor Day, 1958. and that just 68 people took that first 5 mile walk across the Mighty Mac. In the early years, it seems that the walk was sparsely attended and viewed as an annoyance until the governor was brought in to lead the walk. The walk averages 50,000 to 65,000 attendees and the record is estimated to be 85,000 when George H. W. Bush led the walk in 1992.
A photographer named Chuck contributed one of his photos from the bridge walk to Wikimedia, and he has a nice gallery of Mackinac Bridge Walk photos. A search of Flickr finds some bridge walk pics as well (hopefully more after this year’s walk!). Do you have more links? Post ‘em in the comments and please share your story/photos if you walk this year! If you click that button to the right, you can get a ridiculous amount of information on the Mighty Mac!
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